When you get closer to solar panel and see the number of types of solar panels cells. It’s easy to be at a loss for where to start. And as the photovoltaic industry advances, new models are coming onto the market. At Cambio Energético we want to help more and more people and companies make the leap to photovoltaic self-consumption. And for this, we seek to share our accumulated experience in solar installations. So that you can move more firmly towards saving with clean energy.
So if you have any questions about it, do not hesitate to contact us through our website(https://www.tindosolar.com.au) or by phone(+611800 029 875). A great general typology differentiates solar panels between: Photovoltaic, which transform sunlight into electricity; Thermal, which convert solar radiation into thermal energy to heat, for example, shower or pool water; and hybrids, which combine the two previous technologies to provide heat and electricity. In this article we will focus on the main types of photovoltaic solar panels. All this, in order that you can approach the type of solar panel that best suits you.
Bi-Facial Solar Panel:
A first distinction between photovoltaic solar panels would be between those that have one or both sides to capture sunlight. The image that comes to mind when you hear about solar panels will surely refer you to conventional solar panels that are usually mono-facial; that is, they capture sunlight on their upper face, while the lower face is opaque. But you should know that there are also bifacial solar panels.
A technology with which they have been working since the 1960s and which has had a boost in recent years. As their name dictates, these panels have two faces to capture sunlight and convert it into electricity. The objective of this technology is not so much to increase the efficiency of the solar panel as for it to generate more electricity. But if you want more efficient bifacial solar panels, some models are already available that incorporate larger PERC monocrystalline split cells (166mm).
one of the disadvantages of bifacial solar panels is their price. They are more expensive than regular one-sided panels, though a good reason is that they require more materials to manufacture but they have the almost efficiency equal to one sided face panel. In this way, a better behavior is achieved when the irradiance is lower and a better temperature coefficient is achieved. Although, we will talk about the type of cell later. If you want to know more about this type of panel, you can consult our article on bifacial solar panels.
Types of Solar Panels According to their structural based Technology:
Another typology, perhaps the most used to differentiate between types of solar panels, is the one that refers to the technology that makes them up. Here we can distinguish between: monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film. Let’s take a closer look at this technology and the differences we find between some types and others.
Monocrystalline:
Monocrystalline solar panels are among the most widely used today in rooftop solar installations. One of the reasons why people tend to choose this type of solar panel is because of its appearance. The solar cells inside the monocrystalline solar panels have a single flat black color appearance on them, making them popular with homeowners. To identify them you just have to look at the shape of the silicon wafers, which are usually square with cut corners.
Our new Tindo Karra-410W PERC monocrystalline allows Tindo solar panel to fit into less space in a comparable price and give more power. As Tindo Solar is leading the list of the best solar manufacturer in Australia and company has carved its niche in the Australian soil.
Polycrystalline:
Polycrystalline panels, sometimes referred to as multi-crystalline panels, are popular with homeowners looking to install solar panels on a budget. This type of solar cells generally won’t have the corners cut off due to its crystalline nature, so you won’t see the white spaces on the front of the panel that you see in monocrystalline panels as well.
The way they are made gives the panels a patchy bluish color, which some people don’t like at all. The manufacturing process also makes them less efficient than monocrystalline panels, as we’ll see later.
Thin-Film:
Thin film solar panels are completely different from monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels. They are solid black in color, without the normal silicon cell outlines seen on the face of a crystalline solar panel. Thin-film solar panels are generally light and flexible; suitable qualities to facilitate the installation process. Thin-film solar cells are primarily used in large-scale operations, such as utility or industrial solar installations.
This is due to their lower efficiency rates, which require having more space to install the number of modules required. However, they can also be used for more “domestic” uses, such as powering a caravan, a boat or a tent. Thin-film solar panels tend to degrade faster than other types of solar panels, which is why they typically come with a shorter warrant as Thin-film solar panels normally last 20-25 years; moreover, crystalline silicon solar panels can last up to 30-35 years. Various conditions, including weather, temperature, and installation, can impact both panels.
Very high temperatures can cause cells to disintegrate faster, whereas extremely low temperatures can make them less efficient at producing power due to the winter seasons. Moisture can also damage solar cells. Proper installation and maintenance are essential for ensuring a longer lifespan of solar panels as it.
Differences between monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film panels:
Presented the types of solar panels according to their technology, let’s now see a little more in detail, what differences we can find between them, in relation to the manufacturing process, efficiency and price.
What differences do we find in its manufacture?
Monocrystalline solar panel:
Monocrystalline solar panels contain a wafer that is made of a single crystal of silicon that why they are called as mono crystalline solar panel. The single crystal is formed by the Czochralski method, which includes the following steps:
First, a “seed” crystal is placed in a vat of high-temperature molten pure silicon. The seed is then removed and molten silicon forms around it, creating a crystal. The large crystal, also called an ingot, is cut into thin sheets that are used to make solar cells. Typically, a monocrystalline panel will contain 60 or 72 solar cells, depending on the size of the panel. Polycrystalline solar cells, on the other hand, are manufacture like monocrystalline panels: a seed crystal is placed in molten silica. However, instead of extracting the silicon seed crystal, the entire silicon vat is cool.
This cooling process causes multiple crystals to form which are what give the panels their bluish appearance. Like monocrystalline panels, polycrystalline panels will contain either 60 or 72 cells. Thin-film solar panel is for by depositing a thin layer of a photovoltaic substance onto a solid surface, such as glass etc.
Examples of these photovoltaic substances include: amorphous silicon (a-Si); Cadmium telluride (CdTe); copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS). the solar cells are dye sensitize (DSC). Each of these materials creates a different “type” of solar panel, however they all fall under the umbrella of being thin film solar cells. Due to the manufacturing process, solar panels end up being light and, in some cases, flexible. However, it also makes them less efficient than crystalline solar panels.
What type of panels is more efficient?
Monocrystalline solar panels:
generally have the highest efficiency and ability to generate power of all types of solar panels. The efficiencies of monocrystalline panels can range from 17% to 23%. Because monocrystalline solar cells are make of a single crystal of silicon, electrons can flow more easily through the cell, making the photovoltaic cell more efficient than other types of solar panels. The higher efficiency of monocrystalline solar panels means that they require less space to achieve a given power capacity. Therefore, they will generally have a higher power output than polycrystalline or thin-film modules. Polycrystalline solar panel:
In polycrystalline solar panels:
the multiple silicon crystals in each solar cell make it difficult for electrons to flow. This crystalline structure makes the efficiency rate lower than that of monocrystalline panels. Efficiency ratings for polycrystalline panels will typically range from 15% to 17%. However, one of the things in which the polycrystalline wins the battle over the monocrystalline is in temperatures. As you know, solar panels like light a lot, but they don’t like temperature at all. In fact, when faced with high temperatures, they reduce their efficiency; that is, they reduce their production.
In these cases, a polycrystalline panel will perform better than a monocrystalline panel. Thanks to new technologies, polycrystalline panels are now much closer in efficiency to monocrystalline solar panels than in the past. Quality improvements have also helped push standard 240-watt 60-cell polycrystalline panels to over 300 watts. Thin film technology, meanwhile, has a reputation as the worst of the solar panel technologies because they have the lowest efficiency. Until very recently, thin film efficiencies were in the single digits. Researchers have recently achieved 23.4% efficiency with prototype thin-film cells. However, thin film panels that are commercially available generally have efficiencies in the 10-13% range.
The low efficiency rating means that you will need to install more thin-film solar panels to produce the same amount of electricity as a monocrystalline or polycrystalline solar panel. Hence, this type of panel does not really make much sense for residential installations, where space is limit. Instead, they work better in larger-scale installations, such as utility or industrial solar projects, because more panels can be install to meet power demands. Thin film panels also have Because they break down faster, you may need to replace them more often.
What are the differences in price in the various types of solar panels?
The manufacturing process of monocrystalline panels means that they end up costing more than other types of solar panels. Its high efficiency and power rating also add to the price. A price that, as solar technology and manufacturing have improved, the difference with respect to polycrystalline panels has been decreasing. Polycrystalline solar panels are cheaper to produce than monocrystalline panels, which allowed them to constitute a significant market share in residential installations between 2012 and 2016. But although they are still cheaper than monocrystalline panels, as we said, the difference is not a lot. This, added to its lower performance, has caused more people to choose monocrystalline solar panels.
Thin film solar panel:
Thin film solar panels have the lowest cost of the three types of solar panels due to their low performance. They’re also easier to install than crystalline silicon panels, bringing their price down even further. The simple installation process is another reason why thin film panels are ideal for large-scale commercial projects. However, the price of monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels continues to drop. This means that a more powerful and efficient single or polycrystalline system won’t cost you much more than a larger, less efficient thin-film system.
At the aesthetic level, the one that comes out the worst would be the polycrystalline. And although the thin film panel is cheaper, more flexible and lighter, and therefore easier to install, its efficiency is the least, as is its useful life.
In Conclusion, the best type of solar panel for your home?
As we were saying, in general terms, thin-film solar panels do not make sense for residential solar installations. Although they are cheaper, they will require more space and will not produce as much electricity as monocrystalline or polycrystalline panels. For most residential solar panel installations, it makes the most sense to install monocrystalline panels. Although you have to pay a higher price, you get higher efficiency and more elegant aesthetics than with polycrystalline panels.
However, if you’re on a tight budget, polycrystalline panels may make more sense for you. As you can see, depending on what you need, some options may be more favorable than others. Panels according to the number and type of solar cells. One last way of classifying the solar panels that we include is the one that differentiates according to the type and number of solar cells it contains.
Solar Panel Price in Australia are price anywhere from under a hundred dollars to upwards of five hundred dollars. but Tindo Solar gives many Discounts.
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